Michael Jackson: The Biggest Draw of the Day?

By
Michael Cavna

MIKE LUCKOVICH (Atlanta Journal Constitution / cagle.com)

The official Michael Jackson Public Memorial/ Global Spectacle/ Mediapalooza will be upon us today, and this Riffster can't help but think: Did Atlanta cartoonist Mike Luckovich get it right?That is: Is this worldwide event now so ginormous that little other news will get covered unless it has a Direct Cultural Link to Michael Jackson: The Public Mourning?

Even trying to judge by the tonnage of Jackson cartoons (some raving, some scathing), it's tough to extrapolate public sentiment toward the Once-Great Gloved One. Do a billion people care this deeply about Michael, or has the media simply helped fan the flames of interest to "uncontained fire" proportions?

Since more than 700 'Riffs readers have piped up with strong opinions about media coverage of Jackson, we're compelled to offer a Meta-Poll to ask: Do you plan to watch any portion of today's Michael Jackson memorial? You're invited to vote here:

Michael, I was surprised you didn't comment on the censorship of Darrin Bell's _Candorville_ cartoon about Michael Jackson's death. Got to say that the version that the Post ran was very disappointing--until I read Bell's blog and saw what it was supposed to say! What's your take?